The Grenada gazette. (Grenada, Miss.) 1885-18??, 1887-09-10
OUR AMERICAN WOMEN.
Arbitrary Fashion Much to Blanc
for Their Weakness.
The Civil War Implanted tho Seeds Of
y" National NervousnesS-Causcs u
Premature Old Age-Irrational
Dress and Bad Ventilation.

Fast becoming proyerbial. A gentle.
man Of intelligence o nee told me that
the belief originated with the English,
and it is without just foundation; but l
am convinced by ocular demonstration
that the tender and fragile nature Of
American women is not u myth.
The want of physical exercise by
American girls while growing up is
one cause Of their premature old age.
Much of the insanity that affects our
land is attributed by physicians to the
want of bodily outdoor exercise in
childhood and the precooious develop
ment OF mind.
With the ancients physical culture
first received attention. then moral
then mental. The American girls have
a fairer, fresher appearance from six
teen to eighteen years of age than for
oigners. but fade earlier
The loss Of health and detection Of
spirits Of single women in the middle
and higher class of society are mostly
from the want of some regular occu.
patton, some definite aim. some high
and elevating pursuit.
Alexander Walker says: at would
be easy to show that disease, as well
as deformity, is an inevitable result of
neglect Of active Duties Dr.. Combe
says: "lnactivity of intellect and feel
ing is very frequent predisposing
cause of every form of nervous disease.
For evidence Of this we have only to
look at the numerous victims to be
found. who have no call to excrtion'in
gaining the means Ct subsistence, and
no objects Of interest on which to ex-
ercise their mental faculties. The in.
tellect and feelings, not being provided
with interests external to themselves.
must either become inactive and weak
or work upon themselves, and thus be.
come diseased. The most frequent
victims OF this kind of predisposition
are females Of the middle and higher
classes, especially those of nervous
constitution, and Of good natural abili-
ties. The liability of such persons to
melancholy, hysteria, hypochondriasis.
and other varieties of mental disease,
really depends on state of INABILITY
OF the brain occasioned by imperfect
exercise"
The health of women that work in
the fields is generally excellent-and
why? Because of their exercise in
pure, outdoor air 0, that l could inn
press on my countrywomen in all the
conditions OF life the necessity of mod
crate exercise in the open air! 1t will
give women clearer thoughts, tirmer |
principles. more patience self-reliance |
and stability Of character 1t will give
yigor and freedom to both mind and |
body. Especially would we recom-
mend this panacea to the considcra-
ton of young mothers. Since the
hydropathic system has become FASH
ionable we think more attention has
been paid to the general health of the
body A prudent diet. outdoor cxer.
else. relaxation and freedom from the
use of strong medicine are tending to !
restore strength and yigor to many
shattered constitutions.
The early entrance into society of
most American girls has its bad effect.
The night Is devoted to fashionable
gayeties and the day to rest. This
accords with the fast and go-aheada-
tive character of our people. The dis
sipated. unsettled state of mind it cn-
gcnders, the intense love of excite
ment, the fondness Of admiration, are
certainly disadvantageous.
American women marry too early
and live too secluded. Many are
scarcely out Of school before thcy have
settled down as wives and house,
keepers. The cares of family are
hevolvfng on them before they have
the strength and nerve to perform
them. One reason that our female an.
cestors lasted longer and had better
health was that their minds were not
so much taxed nor the nerves so high.
ly strung. They had the full use of
Their powers. Their physical health
was better, their constitutions
stronger. Those who had much mental
activity generally had sufficient phys.
zeal cSortlon to countcrbaance it.
Englishwomen wall, and ride more,
marry later, and have by nature bet.
ter constitutions.
The Civil war had much to do with
the nervous prostration and general
failure OF health Of American people.